E-Levy: Contact Wontumi for a bailout before he buys Chelsea – Ablakwa to Ken Ofori-Atta

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the government to contact NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly referred to as Chairman Wontumi for a bailout before he buys Chelsea Football Club.

According to him, instead of burdening Ghanaians with numerous taxes including the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), the Finance Minister should promptly consult Chairman Wontumi for the needed assistance.

This follows moves by the businessman to purchase the UK-based Club for $3.1billion after its owner, Roman Abramovich put it up for sale.

“If I purchase the Club, Lukaku has done his best but I would transfer him to a different club and have talks with Manchester United if I can get Ronaldo into my squad and try to get Messi from Paris Saint Germain as well into the team,” Wontumi said.

But taking to his Twitter handle, Mr Ablakwa jokingly remarked: “It seems we should urge Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to contact Chairman Wontumi for a bailout. Why go through all that stress pleading with Ghanaians at tortuous town halls to accept the obnoxious $1bn worth E-Levy when Wontumi can easily rescue Ghana before saving Chelsea?”

The E-Levy seeks to impose a 1.75% levy on transactions, including Mobile money transfers done between accounts on the same Electronic Money Issuers (EMI), Mobile money transfers from accounts on one EMI to a recipient on another EMI, Transfers from bank accounts to mobile money accounts (either directly, GIP debit, bank cards or another scheme), Transfers from mobile money accounts to bank accounts (either directly, GIP debit, bank cards or another scheme) and Bank transfers originating from a bank account belonging to an individual.

But its introduction has met stiff opposition from well-meaning Ghanaians including the NDC who argue it will further compound the hardships of the ordinary Ghanaian.

The government has however assured that a revised bill will be relaid in Parliament after its townhall meeting which is explaining to the general populace the rationale behind the introduction of the levy.

Source: thenewsroomonline.com